Book Blast: Finding the Baby Jesus by Kimball Fisher

Finding the Baby Jesus by Kimball Fisher

After being forced to wear lederhosen for the annual holiday card picture, twelve-year-old Chris thinks that the least his parents can do is get him the Tony Hawk skateboard he wants for Christmas. But when he recovers the hand-carved Baby Jesus that everyone thought had been destroyed in a fire the year his Grandma died, Chris realizes that some gifts are even more important than skateboards. 

When the author had to discontinue a cherished tradition of reading Christmas stories out loud with his family and holiday guests each week in December, he wrote Finding the Baby Jesus. He had been unable to locate enough meaningful stories that could be read in a single sitting with wiggly children.

What people are saying:

“Tender and true, this warm Christmas tale brought tears to my eyes.”–Heather Vogel Frederick, author of the much-beloved Mother-Daughter Book Club series and Oregon Book Award winner for The Voyage of Patience Goodspeed

“A touching story that speaks to the importance of family, giving, and the true spirit of Christmas.”–Matthew Kirby, author of Icefall, winner of the Edgar Allen Poe and the Pen Center USA Literary Awards for Children’s Literature

“Deeply moving. Poignant.”–Deborah Halverson, former editor at Harcourt Children’s Books and author of Honk If You Hate Me, a Gayle McCandliss Literary Award Winner

The Blog Tour presented by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer will run November 22 - December 21, 2012.

There will be a tour wide giveaway for a $25 Amazon Gift Card.

Click HERE to see the tour schedule.

Blog Tour: All I Want for Christmas is You by Lisa Mondello

This virtual book tour is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.

Click HERE for the tour schedule.

Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.

It is my pleasure to feature Lisa Mondello and her book

All I Want For Christmas Is You.

About the Author:

Lisa Mondello (a.k.a. LA Mondello) has held many jobs in her life but being a published authors is the last job she'll ever have. She's not retiring! She blames the creation of the personal computer for her leap into writing novels. Otherwise, she'd still be penning stories with paper and pen.  Her first book, All I Want for Christmas is You, was the winner of the Golden Quill contest for Best First Book and to date has had over 400,000 downloads worldwide.

She is currently the author of 14 novels under the name Lisa Mondello and LA Mondello. You can find more information about Lisa Mondello at http://www.lisamondello.blogspot.com
www.LisaMondello.blogspot.com    
@LisaMondello
http://www.facebook.com/lisa.mondello.1

Lisa has stopped by for an interview:

 When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

As soon as I knew what to do with pen and paper the stories just started coming. They never stopped.

 How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?
I can’t count. I’ve done everything from be a car hop, work in a library, manage a rock band, sell Pampered Chef and work at a school in special education.

 How long does it take you to write a book?
It depends on the research needed for the book and what’s going on in my life at the time. Of course, if I’m on a deadline, all bets are off and I have the amazing ability to kick into gear. Of course, my housework suffers greatly.

 Do you have a routine that you use to get into the right frame of mind to write?
I create a soundtrack for all my books. I use that sound track to get into the mood. When the kids were younger and I’d cart them around, that soundtrack was playing on the stereo in the car. My kids hated it. But it made it easier for me to be interrupted during writing and get back into it when I sat back down at the computer. My head is a jukebox for the times I can’t have a stereo on.

 Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?
Everywhere. I know it’s cliché, but it’s the truth. I’ve been in a restaurant when an idea hit me. I’ve been playing with the kids. At Fourth of July fireworks. You name it. Ideas just come. When they stop coming I’ll worry.

 How do you decide what you want to write about?
That is so hard. Read the last question and answer. I’m full of ideas. So wrestling with them and deciding what to give my focus to is hard. I do it, but I often work on multiple projects at the same time.

 What is the first book you remember reading by yourself?
Justin Morgan Has a Horse. It amazes me we never forget our first book read for sheer pleasure.

 What are you reading right now?
Soul of the Dragon by Natalie Damschroder

 What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I’m always writing. So anything else of enjoyment gets fit in between.

 What is your favorite comfort food?
Coffee. Can I count coffee? I always have a cup of coffee nearby.

 What do you think makes a good story
Characters and plot that make me forget I’m a writer. Writers are the hardest critiques. If I’m reading and I paying attention to style or the way an author did something, I’m reading like a writer. I want to enjoy a book by reading like a reader. I want to get so involve that I stay up way into the night and can’t stop reading.

 What book, if any, do you read over and over again?
I really don’t read books over again. I love books, but there are so many to read that I usually only read them once. Movies I can see over and over again though. I love movies. And if I love a movie, my family usually hides the DVD on me because they don’t want to see it again.

Fun random questions:

• dogs or cats? Both.

• Coffee or tea? Please…coffee.

• Dark or milk chocolate? Milk chocolate

• Rocks or flowers? flowers

• Night or day? Both

• Favorite color? Red

• Crayons or markers? both

• Pens or pencils? Pens. I like the feel of a good pen in my hand.

All I Want for Christmas is You
Fate with a Helping Hand Book One by Lisa Mondello

Book Description:

Sometimes fate needs a little hand...

Santa Claus is going to have a rough season... Lauren Alexander is raising her daughter alone. Abandoned by her family for her decision to keep her daughter Kristen, she has done a pretty good job for the last six years. Or she thought she had. That's why she is crushed when little Kristen gives up her wish for a toy or goodie and instead asks Santa for a present for her mother. She wants Santa to bring a Daddy. Delivering Daddies isn't Santa's bag. 

But this Santa has a plan... 

Kyle Preston knows what it is like to be abandoned too. Luckily he found the support of loving adoptive parents and has turned himself into one of the most successful Real Estate developers in town. 

Building a house is easy. Building someone's trust is a whole other story. But with a little helping hand, a little Christmas magic can make all the difference in the world.

An Excerpt:

"You don't have to be afraid. This will explain it all. I promise you." He smiled warmly and Lauren wanted to trust him if only to believe in simple kindness.

With shaking hands, she took the piece of paper, warm from being in the pocket close to Kyle's body. She held it up straight so that she could see Kyle while reading the words on the paper.

"Dear Santa..." she read out loud, then read the next part silently. "Oh, no," she groaned.

"I know. That's just how I felt."

Lauren shot him a skeptical glance. "How did you get this?"

"Kristen gave it to me."

"That's impossible. Mrs. Hopkins just helped her with it this afternoon and-"
"And she gave it to me in the Mall," Kyle finished for her.

She looked at him quizzically, still trying to comprehend the course of events leading up to his seizure of her daughter's precious note.

"It's not that hard to figure out, Lauren," Kyle said warmly.

His dark eyes gleamed with the light from the lamppost. He wore no hat to protect his head from the falling snow. Now his hair was filled with powdered flakes, matting it down.

His grin was bright and wide as he informed her, "I'm Santa Claus."

Fate with a Helping Hand Series includes:

Book 1 ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU
Book 2 THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT
Book 3 THE KNIGHT AND MAGGIE'S BABY

My Thoughts:
      I have never read a Lisa Mondello story that I didn't love.  She creates strong characters who are easy to invest in.  The world she puts those characters in is always well thought out and the plot is clever.  
     I opened this book planning to love it - but...I got a little worried at the start where a little girl is wanting a daddy for Christmas.  Lisa Mondello created the perfect Christmas scenario. 
     As a single mom, my heart bled for both the mother and the child with the opening scenes of the book.  I was all in from there and read the book through in one sitting.  
     The characters are fantastic.  There isn't a character in this book that I didn't connect with.  The storyline is remarkable and wonderfully done.   The level of emotion is the story is incredible.  The themes running strong throughout the book are family, love and belief.  Every person should have the kind of family that Kyle is offering to share with Lauren and Kristen.  Fantastic read filled with love, laughter, dedication, forgiveness, and hope.

Blog Tour: Slopjar by Ingrid Jennings (Giveaway)

This blog tour is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.

Click HERE to see the schedule.

Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour!

It is my pleasure to feature:

Ingrid Jennings and Slopjar.

About the Author:

Originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, Ingrid Jennings is what one would call a true Lioness. As a wife and a mother, she is loyal and a protector. As a publishing guru, she is a team player and works with her clients toward their success. As a teacher, she is passionate about education, and as a business woman, she is always on the hunt for new opportunities to learn and grow. She wears many hats and handles each situation in stride and with ease.

       With a B.S. in biology and chemistry from Palm Beach Atlantic Christian University, Ingrid decided to go a step further, to get a step closer to her true passion by excelling with her masters degree in reading education from Nova Southeastern University.

       Ingrid spent three years working as a public school teacher in Palm Beach County, teaching integrated science to ninth graders. While teaching, Ingrid self-published her poetry into her first book titled Slopjar. Slopjar recieved rave reviews not only for its creativity, excellent writing, and self expression but also for the excellence of its publishing and marketing. Through the experience and knowledge gained while publishing and marketing her own book, Ingrid gained an appreciation for the inner workings of the publishing world and ultimately birthed her own publishing company Lioness Publishing House.

Website: www.ingridjennings.com

Twitter @ingridmjennings

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ingrid-Jennings/362113930525719

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6468845.Ingrid_Jennings

Slopjar
Ingrid Jennings

Genre: Poetry

Publisher: Lioness Publishing House

ISBN: 978-0985696047

ASIN: B008Q3DHLM

Number of pages: 138

Word Count: 9,122

Cover Artist: Gaelyn Larrick

Amazon   Barnes and Noble

Book Description:

This is a book of poetry that will truly touch your soul.

Indulge in the words of a lonely lunatic full of laughter, love, lust, Lucifer, and the Lord.

Escape into a world of profound, seductive words that will melt your soul like butter.

Escape into an insane mind and learn the trials of a battered soul.

Fall into the trap of this astonishing book that will pull at the strings of your heart.

Immerse yourself in the pure pleasure of this dazzling work of art.

Open up the Slopjar.

Excerpt:

NIGHTMARES

Too many nightmares live in my mind,

too many nightmares leave me in a bind,

too many nightmares surround my soul,

they leave me in fear,

when no one is near.

Too many nightmares,

oh, why are you here?

Leave me in peace

so I may sleep.

And here I go

down to dream.

Sleep be sweet and lay me in rest.

CANDLELIGHT

And as I lay down to sleep,

I felt that dream that burdens my soul,

so softly it tiptoed in,

I could see its apparition whisk by my body

-in my long-lost dream.

The dream once lost came back to haunt.

For days I never knew what peace was like.

So here I slumber,

I slumber in light

because I’m scared with fright

of this mysterious ghost haunting my dreams.

Dreams of flowers,

dreams of bliss,

dreams of this thing

coming out at night.

So I slumber in light.

The light of a candle burning on my chest,

please put me to rest

and rid me of this pest.

And here I slumber,

in the light of the fire,

undisturbed by all spirits’ desires.

And the apparition of smoke so softly whisks by my bed,

the flames of the candle dance in its presence.

I have been frightened, so I burn my candle at night.

And my candle burns each night and blazes so high.

And me—

I lie,

seeking a restful night,

undisturbed by any little fright.

Until I awaken in a hospital bed,

Thank God for men of fire.

They came in the night and rescued my soul,

they saved my flesh from the flames of the night.

THE DREAM

It has already been determined how much I burned my candle because of a

haunting in a dream.

A dream so extreme,

it felt so supreme,

call it blasphemy,

because this dream made me scream.

A dream where I dreamt of cedar and oak romancing my figure

and caressing my body under a starry sky.

A sky so intensifying,

it bewildered my mind.

Under the starry sky

I didn’t feel any lack,

any lack of love,

for I knew it was all there.

And in this dream the woods

capture my soul.

The cedar and oak entangle me so.

Why do they do so,

seduce me each night?

They entangle me in their bewildering webs.

I just float through the night

in the midst of the shadows.

I dance with the branches,

I play with the leaves

until the dawn begins to rise.

And just as it rises,

it sets just as well,

and when it does my friends and I

begin to dance.

In a trance

we move about.

The glowing moon watches from above.

We twirl and we run.

We enjoy the sounds of a sleepless night.

Why do these woods entangle me so,

wrapping me in their bewildering webs?

When the fall comes they shelter my body

from cold frost bites, and as the winter tiptoes in

I run about,

there’s no doubt.

Trotting on the leaves,

scouting through the forest.

Pecan, cedar, oak, or maple,

I love my trees.

They are my friends,

they entice me

to the end.

Tour Wide Giveaway 

1 $10 Amazon Gift card

6 print copies of Slopjar

7 ebook copies of Slopjar

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guest Author: Maimah Karmo

Welcome to The Wormhole.

It is my pleasure to feature a guest author:

Maimah Karmo.

 About Maimah Karmo, author of Fearless

On February 28, 2006, at 4:45 p.m., Maimah Karmo was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer.

She was 32 years old.

She had a 3-year-old at the time, and a fiancé, who wound up leaving her weeks before the wedding.

While undergoing chemotherapy, she made a promise to God that if she survived, she would create an organization that would educate, empower, advocate for and support young women affected by breast cancer. After the second round of chemotherapy, Tigerlily Foundation was born, and since then, has sought to provide programs to young women of diverse backgrounds, including those at heightened risk and those with less access to care and to improve the quality of life for young adult breast cancer survivors by creating vigilant self-advocates.

Since starting Tigerlily, Maimah has dedicated her life to helping young women around the world. A sought-after speaker, she has appeared in numerous national print outlets, including O, the Oprah Magazine, Essence, Ladies' Home Journal, Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, and Redbook. She has also been featured on national television, including "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "Good Morning America," FOX, ABC, and CBS.

In 2009, Maimah was awarded a L’Oreal Paris’ Woman of Worth award for her achievements in making a difference in the lives of others, and in 2011, received the Congressional Black Caucus Leadership in Advocacy Award for her work with young women and breast cancer. Later that year, Maimah was appointed to the Federal Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer in Young Women, established by the Affordable Care Act in an effort to increase knowledge of breast health and breast cancer, particularly among women under 40 and those at heightened risk for the disease.

While breast cancer was an unwelcome experience, Maimah would not give back the experience: “I’ve lived more in the past four years than I did the years before," says Maimah. "I'm dedicated to changing the breast cancer landscape and creating a legacy of a world free of breast cancer."

Maimah shares her inspiring story in her upcoming memoir, Fearless: Awakening to My Life's Purpose Through Breast Cancer (Brown Books, October 2012), which she was prompted to write by Oprah Winfrey herself during an appearance on her show in May, 2009.  In it, she shares her struggle and the importance of breast cancer advocacy.

Born in Liberia, Maimah fled to the United States as a refugee with her family at the age of 16. Today,, she resides with her daughter near Washington, D.C., in Reston. Virginia. Learn more at MaimahKarmo.com.

She has joined us today for an interview:

? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

When I was a child. I loved to read and I had so much to say. I would write poems and short stories all the time.

? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?

OMG. How many jobs did I not have? I have done everything from working in retail to being an administrative assistant, doing various consulting jobs, doing Government contracting, writing resumes, you name it!

? How long does it take you to write a book?

I believe it is different for each writer.  My book began as my journal 6 years ago, but I stopped writing to focus on building my non-profit organization, Tigerlily Foundation, whose mission is to educate, advocate for, empower and support young women – before, during and after breast cancer.

? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

I always have a song in my head, so all of my writing is infused with music or poetry of some kind.

? Do you have a routine that you use to get into the right frame of mind to write?

I would say that I need to just get “that feeling”. Sometimes, I am unable to write for months and then there is that time when I’m just ready and I can just start writing and hammer out chapter after chapter and just get it done.

? Where do you write and how do you write ~ on paper, typewriter or computer?

I write on computer. I take a lot of notes on paper, though and I’m always having thoughts as I’m in the car or doing something and I’ll make notes on sticky paper, or on my phone, then sit down, sort them out and get it all done.

? Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?

My book is non-fiction, so it is based on my personal story.

? How do you decide what you want to write about?

Right now, it felt like it was time to share my journey, about coming to America as a refugee, losing everything, building my life, getting breast cancer, watching it all fall apart, then finding my true passion.  My next books will be non-fiction as well, but I’d like to highlight some of the challenges women faced and share other stories of inspiration and hope.

? Where does a book start for you ~ characters, plot, ending?

For me, it starts with the plot – even with my own personal story, I had to consider what I would share and how I would share it; then who were the important people in my life that had been a part of my journey, who I want to highlight. The ending for me was the hardest part, but I did not pressure myself, I felt that I had to let it arrive on its own – organically and it did.

? What books have most influenced your life?

The diary of Anne Frank, Annie Proulx, Wayne Dyer, Neale Donald Walsh, and Don Miguel Ruiz.

? What is the first book you remember reading by yourself?

My parents used to order us Childcraft books. They came in sets and would teach everything from geography to what people wore in other cultures. I loved them!

? What are you reading right now?

LOL! Well, I am reading four books at a time.  Three of my good friends, Mali Phonpadith, Misti Burmeister and KK Anadu, all published books this year, so I’m reading them as well as a book on gratitude.

? What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I love to enjoy my life. I have a full life with events, friends, my daughter, my work and so many people I love. I’m never bored! 

? What is your favorite comfort food? Oreos or Cheetos!

? What do you think makes a good story? Having rich characters with depth to them, is very important.

? Who would you consider your favorite author and why?

I don’t know that I have a favorite author per se, but I would say that The Diary of Anne Frank had a huge impact on me, because, as a refugee, I identified with losing the things that were “important”, but being able to find joy in where I was and create adventure in a time and place where I was still finding myself.

? What book, if any, do you read over and over again? That’s a tough question.  There are so many books that make up the mosaic of my life. I would say books by the authors I listed above.

? Are you a “plotter” or a “pantser”?  If pantser means, by the seat of my pants, then I’m that! J

Fun random questions: 

·        dogs or cats? Neither.

·        Coffee or tea? Tea.

·        Dark or milk chocolate? Dark.

·        Rocks or flowers? Flowers.

·        Night or day? Both – I know, I’m cheating!

·        Favorite color? Brown/beige/red… I know, I’m making up my own rules again!

·        Crayons or markers? Markers.

·        Pens or pencils? Pens.

  

To receive a review copy or to set up an interview, contact Megan Renart:

meganr@prbythebook.com or 512-501-4399 x709.

Cover Reveal and Giveaway! Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton

Today The Mod Podge Bookshelf and Mod Podge Blog Tours are hosting Kelsey Sutton's Some Quiet Place cover reveal!

Summary:

Elizabeth Caldwell has perfected the art of pretending to feel emotion, but it’s always a lie. After a near-fatal car accident when she was a small child, Elizabeth lost the ability to feel any emotion, but along with that loss she gained bizarre abilities: she can see the personified Emotions she cannot feel.  Fury, Resentment, Longing—they’ve all given up on her, because she doesn't succumb to their touch. All, that is, save one. Fear. He’s consumed by the mystery of Elizabeth’s past, consumed by her.

And then there are Elizabeth's cryptic, recurring dreams, in which there’s always love, and there’s always death. Haunted by these dreams, Elizabeth paints them, knowing that they somehow hold the key to the mystery of her past. 

But a shadowy menace is stalking Elizabeth.  Her survival depends on uncovering the truth about herself.  And when it matters most, she won’t be able to rely on Fear to save her.

Kelsey is very enthusiastic about her debut novel's cover; here is what she has to say about the design:

"It is gorgeous, eerie, and maybe a little strange. I love how much relevance it has to the story, as well. The farmland in the background, the town, the stormy sky, the leaves, the way the girl is vanishing. The point is, I am in love. Hope you adore it as much as I do."

 What relevance is she talking about? 

Enter to win a Pre-Order of Some Quiet Place below to find out!!!

This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: Curiosity Killed the Kat by Elizabeth Nelson

Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.

It is my pleasure to feature: 

Elizabeth Nelson and Curiosity Killed the Kat.

This blog tour is presented by Teddy Rose at Virtual Authors Book Tours.

Elizabeth Nelson has joined us here for an interview:

? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I think I was 12 or 13 and my first crush broke up with me. I didn’t know what to do! I thought my life would be over. I remember crying over my diary as I wrote about how much my heart ached.

? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?

I’ve worked many jobs. Writing isn’t a job to me. I love it. Writing is like a 6^th sense to me. It’s instinctual.

? How long does it take you to write a book?

On average, I can write a short book in 1-3 months. Is that quick?

? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

I like to write in only my underwear. Is that weird? haha

? Do you have a routine that you use to get into the right frame of mind to write?

A good cup of coffee and a morning workout usually gets me fired up to write.

? Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?

I like to draw from personal experience and intertwine it with raw imagination.

  

? How do you decide what you want to write about?

I write what I would want to read. Simple as that.

 ? What books have most influenced your life?

Nicholas Kristof’s Half The Sky

  

? What is the first book you remember reading by yourself?

It was probably something along the lines of Green Eggs And Ham by Dr. Suess.

  

? What are you reading right now?

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

  

? What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I love live music and watching reality TV.

  

? What is your favorite comfort food?

Ben and Jerry’s Phish Food.

  

? What do you think makes a good story?

Having it be believable and having the reader not being able to predict what will come next.

  

? What book, if any, do you read over and over again?

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett.

Fun random questions: 

·        dogs or cats?

Dogs. I have two of them!

·        Coffee or tea?

Both.

·        Dark or milk chocolate?

Dark.

·        Rocks or flowers?

Rocks.

·        Night or day?

Day

·        Favorite color?

Purple

·        Crayons or markers?

Crayons. Oh yeah!

·        Pens or pencils?

Pens.

More About Elizabeth Nelson:

Elizabeth wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills and relationship techniques have helped hundreds of others find their mojo. After earning a master's degree in secondary education from UNC, she worked abroad teaching English, bar-tended at late night clubs in Chicago, and continues various philanthropy projects that focus on empowering women. But she always returned to writing.

Though she'll forever be a free-spirit at heart, she now lives in Los Angeles with her two dogs. If she's not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rock concerts.

Elizabeth's Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.nelson.180625 

Curiosity Killed the Kat by Elizabeth Nelson

Katherine ("Kat") thought she had the perfect marriage to International Lawyer Steven Flynn. Until he tried to kill her.

Katherine was the perfect obedient wife. She would do anything for her husband. That is, until she discovers he's the ring leader of a human trafficking organization. The action is fast and furious, the dialogue smart and the sex scenes hot. Meet Katherine in Curiosity Killed The Kat as she goes farther and farther down the rabbit hole of political intrigue, sex, and revenge. Will she let herself be saved by love or will curiosity and a thirst for killer justice kill the Kat?